Expander for tire-vulcanizer.



w. g. HINDS. EXPANDER FOR TIRE VULCANIZBRS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-16,1911

1,068,654. Patented July 29, 1913.

2 SHEETS-EHBET 1v I/VITNESSES: [NI/ENTOR I orney W; A. HINDS.

BXPANDBR FOR TIRE VULGANIZERS,

APPLIG I 1,068,654. Patented July 29,1913.

2 SHEETB-SHBET 2.

v wil I WITNESSES: 8. Q. I mzizm 121227025 f By 7 ll aiding, in the county of Berks and UNITED ST ATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. HINDS, OF READING. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO SHER- MAN I-I. HOVERTER AND ONE-HALF TO PENNSYLVANIA.

EIARVEY E. EBERLY, BOTH OF READING,

EXPANDER FOR- TIRE-VULCANIZERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1913.

Application filed August 16. 1911. SeriatNo. 644,439.

To all hOl/b it may ('OHCFI'H.

Be it ltnownthat l, \YILLlAM A. Hixns,

a citizen of the United States, residing at State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expanders' for Tire-\ ulcanizers, of which the following is a specit ration.

This invention relates to vulcanizing apparatus for tires and has to do more pal" ticularly with an expanding device which is placed inside the shoe, sheath or case of a pneumatic tire for applying an internal pressure when the shoe. sheath or case is being repaired by thevulcanization process, the expander being of the mechanical type as contradistinguislied from the pneumatic or air bag expander which is objectionable for various reasons. For instance, the air bag expander is incapable ()f.(?XG1tlliZ a: great a pressure on the the case as a mechanical expander, is subject to blow-outs during the critical time of vulcanizinfr when the pressure should he retained. is of comparatively short life and expensive. and on the whole does less satisfactory worli than .the type ofexpander herein disclostal. its objects can be quickly and satisfactorily repaired in such a manner that the repaired portion is practically as good as the original structure, the pressure exerted by the ex-j pander. in combination with the heat, causes canvas and rul licr patching pieces to be thoroughly consolidattal in the tire without the liability 0" pockets, of ocair occurring which n ill itlltlitl the repair 0t very l k I i such cross-sectional dimensions as to con Another oh iect, of the invention is the i conne ting the parts together so as to consti- 1 tale a unitary structure capable of being convenientl)- placed in or removed from a tire shoe without the parts being liable to separate.

construction i one of the tire protecting sleeves applied shoe partially emhracl i l l l l l l t t i l I l i 1 l t crall v li y hetwcen the sections. In thepresentinstance.

ha ing a radius depending "upon the Another object is the employment of improved means for expanding the core and an improved construction for the core sec-- tions and the core shoe.

\Vith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel tea tures of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the, claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of tlaccic pander with its parts assembled and in con tracted position, preparatory to assemblage in a pneumatic tire shoe or case. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe applied to the core of the expander. Fig. 3 is a perspective. view of one of the core sections. Figs. l and are central longitudinal views of the expander respectively showing); the parts in normal and expanded positions. Fig. (l a sectional perspective view show ll'igj a tire case clamped in a vul-nniv-zer and containing the expander. the parts which I are in normal or contracted position. Fig.

7 is a similar View showing the expander expanded. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of to the expai'idingwedge operating screws. Fig.0 is a perspective view of one of the exifninding wedges.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts through out the views.

Referring to the drawings. A designates the core of the expander. and lithe shoe thereof. The core A is an ar uate body diameter of the tire casefroiri' which the expander is to be used. and, this body is of form generally to the inte aial surface of the tire case. The core is dividcd linigitudh nally into two sections l and which are vsynnnetrical. and are adapted to expand latsuitahle expanding; means located the expanding means coiriprises a plurality of wedges 3- which are disposed in wedge recesses 4 formed in the meeting taces of the core sectionsl and 2. the recesses of one section being registered with those of the opso' that a tapering chamber for each wedge. The wedges posite section, will be formed are respectively operated by screws 5*which in a more or less radial direction at the time are threaded in tapped openings'6 of the wedges. The screws are disposed radially and pass out of the core through openings 7, the. said openings being large enough to accommodate sleeves 8 that surround the threaded portions of the screws and protect the edges of the tire case against the chafing or cutting action of the screw threads during the turning of the latter.- The outer ends of the screws are formed with heads 9 for application of an operating wrench, and these heads serve to retain the sleeves 8 on the screws. The end Walls 10 of the wedge recesses or chambers 4 cooperate with the openings 7 to maintain the. wedges and operating screws in proper relative position. The meeting faces of; the sections 1 and. 2 are also provided with registering recesses or chambers 11 for receiving retaining lugs 12 on the shoe B, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the said lugs having slots 13 parallel with the central transverse radial plane of the expander. and through these slots piss removable holding devices 14 in the form of pins that pass through openings 15 in the core sections. These pins extend transverselyto the core sections and are so located that the shoe B covers the ends of the openings 15 at all times throughout the normal operation of the expander so that the pins 14 cannot work out. Thus, by means of the lugs 12 and pins 14, the core and shoe of the expander are permanently connected together and are at the same time capable of relative movement.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the shoe B consists of an arcuate trough-like structure which is approximately semi-circular in cross-section and so proportioned as to snugly embrace the wider portion of the core. The shoe is stiffened by a reinforcing bar 16 that is disposed withiri and extends longitudinally thereof, it being fastened to the shoe by rivets 17 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the lugs 12 have rivet shanks 18 which pass through the reinforce 16 and shoe and are upset so that the lugs will be fixed parts of the shoe. This reinforce 16 forms bearings for the inner ends of the operating screws 5 which are made as hard as possible, and without the reinforce the screws might eventually cut through the shoe.

gaged by the-wedges which spread the core the screws impinge on the shoe B, and. as the result the shoe will be moved outwardly the wedges 3 are being raised,- as indicated in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 6 and 7, the use of the expander is illustrated. C designates a fragment of a vulcanizer which has a tire-receiving chamber 19 for receiving the tire I), and the usual bead molds or cleats Ewhich engagethe bead portions 20 of the tire. The -vulcanizer shown is one now commonly used, and in order toadapt my expander thereto. it is merely necessary to provide openings, as at 21, in the bead molds E so as to accommodate the operating screws 5 to the sleeves 8 which pass into the vulcanizer between the bead molds. Extending across the chamber 19 of the vulcanizer are the usual clamp bars 22 engaged with screw studs 23 and carrying tightening bolts 24 that engage both bead molds at theirline of division so that the said molds can be clamped firmly in place about the base portion of the tire. Only one clamp bar is shown, but in practice two or more are employed. Before assembling the tire in the vulcanizer, the expander is placed in the tire and the molds E applied to the bead portion of the same. The tire expander and molds are now placed as a unit into the vulcanizing chamber 19 andt-he parts locked together by the clamping bar 22and tightening bolts 24. In some operations, it is desirable to heat the expander before it is, placed in the tire, as the expander constitutes a considerable mass of metal which,

by retaining heat, will greatly facilitate the repair of the tire. After the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 6, the screws 5 are turned so as to force upwardly the wedges 3 between the core sections 1 and 2, from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, the lateral and web por- 1 10 tions of the tire being thus placed under compression. At the same time the shoe B is forced outwardly by the screw so that the tread portion of the tire will be placed under compression. Thus pressure can be applied to all points of the tire in a uniform and forcible manner. and while the patching material is thus held under compression and subjected to the vulcanizing action, a repair will result which is practically incapable of detection, as compared withthe remainder of the tire. The tire immediately around the operating screws and sleeves will become distorted because of the interposition of these parts. but the fabric to its original condition by working it between the fingers while the fabric is still soft from the vulcanizing heat. It will be observed that an expander ofthis type is well adapted for repairing torn beads, as great 130 can be restored pressure can be applied to the head portion of the tire as Well as to the tread or any other portion.

Should it be 'desired'to take the expander apart, it is merely necessary to expand one end of the expander abnormally by tighten ingthe operating screw 5 at such end and by so doing the shoe B will be forced out-- wardly to suchan' extent that the openings tosuch an extent as to permit access to' the other pin l4,-w hich, upon being driven out, allows the shoe B to be detached from the sections land 2 of the core A, which sections, being wholly detached from each I other, will separate. 'Obvi'o'usly, tlifparts are assembled and connected together in just the opposite manner from which ,they arej disassembled. I

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with "the accompanying drawings, the'advantages. of the construction and of the method of operationwill be readily a parent to those skilled the art to which t 1e invention appertains, and While I'haile described the principle of operation of the invention, together'with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may bemade when desired as are within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what- I claim as new, 1s:

1. An expander comprising a core body divided from end to end into members adapted to spread apart, a shoe bridging the space between the members, andmeans withinthe core body for movably connecting the members and shoe together,

2. An expander comprising a core body divided longitudinally into members adapted to spread apart, a shoe bridging the space between the members, and means within the core body for movably connecting the members and shoe together, said means consisting of retaining lugs on the shoe extending be-' tween and connected with the members.

' 3; An expander comprising coremembers adapted tospread apart, a shoe bridging the space between the members, means for mov- 'abl v connecting the members and shoe toget-her, said means consisting of retaining lugs on the shoe extending between the members, and removable elements in the members engaged with the lugs.

4.. An expander compr sing core sections, a shoe, slotted members on the shoe slidably extending between the core sections, pins extending transversely 'throngh the core sor tions and through the slots oi the said members, and extending means acting on the core sections and shoe.

5. An expander comprising core sections,.

ted. members on; ea shoe slidahly retvreen the core ctions, pins es. ransversely 'thr gh the core sec"- tions and through the slots of the said members, and means located between the core sections for movingt'ne sanieioutwardly ancl for moving the shoeoutwardly, said pins being vso located as to be retained in place by the shoe" throughout the operative range of movement of the sections and shoe.

6. An expander, compr sing a core adapted to gap open throughout its length inexpandmg, a shoe snbstantiallyaslong as theicorov for covering the gap, means for movabl tam ng the on the core, and nice. expanding'theco're.

7. An'expander comprising a core adapted to gap open throughout its length in expands ing, a shoe substantially as long as thecore.

for covering the gap, means between the ends a of the core and shoe for movably and rei'noc ably connecting 1cm together. and a device for ex anding corcontivai'dl v and moving th a shoe simultaneously 8. An expander ron'iprising a wore expandible laterally. a member substantially as long-as and partially embracing the core and movable outwardly transversely to the dire-c tion in which the core expands. and means for connecting the core and member togeth r.

9. An expander coi'nprising a core expandible laterally, a member partially embracing the core and movable outwardly transversely to the direction in \vl'iich the core expands, means for connecting the core and member together, said means comprising a slotted lug extending into the core and tas tened to the member, and a-retainer or: the core extending through the slot of the log.

10. An expander comp -sing an cxpandi ble core having a transverse passage, a shoe on the core, a member on the shoe and extending into the passage, means extending across the passage and detachably engaging the member to retain the shoe and core to gether, a Wedge for expanding the core, and a device for mierating the wedge and acting on the shoe for enlarging the expander.

11. The combination of a core divided ion gitudinally into two sections, said sections having leg and wedge recesses in their meetmg faces, a shoe partially embracing the section logs on theshoe extending into the lug re b, means on the core sections engaging the lugs to retain the shoe and core shoe together tions having transverse openings, pins in the openings for holding the'sections together, a shoe partially] embracing the sections and covering the openings to retain the pins, ex-- .pandmg means operatmg on the core sections and shoe, and means on the shoe engaging the pins to hold the core sections and as a unitary article.

13. The combination of a core, an expanding means therefor including a. screw, a shoe on thc'exterior of th the core, and a reinforce a bearing for the screw. v

14. t The combination of an expandible core, means for expanding the core including a screw extending intothe latter, and a tire protector separate from the ex means and surrounding the portion screw outside ,t-he'core.

15. The combination of a core divided 1ongitudinally into two sections, an operating screw extending between the sections, a head on the outer end of .the screw, it Sleeve on the .of the 1 portion of the screw between the core and head, and means operated by the screw to expand the core. v

e core andmovable 011E451 wardly by the screw during the expansion of on the shoe forming-1 with the core body.

cular cross-section, ?tending.longitudinally within the same, and

panding' semi-circular cross-section, and a reinforcing same.

18, In an expander of the class described, the combinationv of a core body and an arcuate shoe of hollow approximately semi-cit:

a reinforcing strip exmembers risingfrom the strip and connected In an expander of the class described, an arcuate strip extending longitudinally within the same, and radial members within the shoe and fastened to the strip. 5

I 16. In an expander of the class described,

strip extending longitudinally within the shoe of hollow approximately 7 semi-clrcular cross-section, a IBll'lfOIClIlg In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM A. HINDS Witnesses:

SHERMAN H. Hovnn'rnn, v MARTHA S. Hov1m'mn. 

